Hello people and welcome back to Skyrim: Darkblade Chronicles. I'm finally back after a five-month break, and it's for several reasons. Writer's block, life getting in my way, other projects taking up my time, editing spells, you name it. But I've got a Halloween marathon for you all...on Hallow's Eve no less, and what better location to have it in than one of the spookiest places in Skyrim, if not the spookiest?
That being said, I'm pretty sure I've kept Sheldon and Serana waiting long enough, so...dearest Dragonborn? Would you grace us with one of your intros?
With the beauty and melancholy of the courtyard behind us, as well as the sentiments laid bare, we went further into the bowels of the thrice-cursed castle. The further we went, the stronger my disillusionment became; what had this once-proud sanctuary come to? To think that the taint of Stone Fire would infest a castle that was both safe and serene in equal spades was both telling, and disturbing. It was also a testament to the solitude and safety of the location that no one dared invade the place, at least not with success.
It was still comforting to know and remember that the Divines' power and presence could not snuffed out as simply as a crude display of corruption. A thousand times a thousand times have I seen moments during my time as the Beast, and now as the Dovahkiin, where the Divines, whether on their own, or with unity between them seized the day. If it could happen elsewhere, there was at least a faint hope blossoming within the castle. Even still, it was apparent to all that the filth infesting the place would need to be expunged.
None of this would be a daunting task however, with or without Serana's inspirational power, or her bewitching company.
After they went through the door, a short, narrow hallway, and a small staircase awaited them, as did a web-covered barrel on either side of the upper floor. The bookcase next to the barrel on the right held a bag of fifty-six septims on the top shelf, and a bag of twenty-two septims on the bottom shelf. The smaller bookcase opposite to the one Sheldon obtained the two bags of septims on had a bottle of alto wine on its only shelf, and there was a large, iron chain with a ring at the end hanging from the wall.
When Sheldon pulled the chain, the wall blocking their path moved forward slightly.
"We're getting close. I'm sure of it." Serana said seriously as the wall slid upward.
"As am I." Sheldon said, then the raising wall revealed a long table drenched in blood, and covered in bones, including that of a hand.
"I've never even seen this part of the castle before. Be careful, I don't know what might be around." Serana said seriously as Sheldon walked past the half-buried cooking spit on his right, kicked the firewood in his path away, and looked over the table, then at the immediate area.
"This place is a kitchen..." Sheldon trailed off.
"The servants cooked meals here, for themselves mostly. We have another area for the rest of us." Serana said.
"This place would be good for a cooking spell then." Sheldon said.
"Maybe we should check for anything that wants to kill us first." Serana said casually.
"Laas..." Sheldon whispered, then he looked ahead.
"Let me guess...another lady frostbite?" Serana asked as she folded her arms.
"No, a dozen skeletons, or draugrs in the room ahead of us, but that seems to be it." Sheldon said.
"Oh well, let's search this place, and let those skeletons know that they're dead." Serana said.
"Agreed..." Sheldon breathed out, then he and Serana wandered the kitchen, and gathered the pots, cutlery, goblets, plates, and especially the salt piles, elves ear, and canis root on the nearby counters. Even the jug, and cups on the shelf above a table drenched in blood, with a bucket at the base, a deer skull, an axe, and a bowl were taken. Sheldon and Serana both looked over the table before them, and the table in the middle of the room.
"My mother must have done some sort of ritual in here." Serana said.
"To what end?" Sheldon asked.
"I don't know, but if I had to guess, it would probably have to do with the moondial. Maybe she jinxed it in some way." Serana said.
"As in, she scattered the crests across the courtyard from within the seclusion of this place." Sheldon said, then Serana smirked and shook her head.
"She really was a genius...or rather, still is, hopefully...if she's still around." She said seriously.
"Serana..." Sheldon groaned.
"O.k. o.k...we don't know what's become of her." Serana said.
"Or what hasn't become of her, so until then...fear, and despair have no say in this matter." Sheldon said.
"Easier said than done...but you're right. We came here to learn about her, and that's what we're going to do." Serana said.
"Right." Sheldon said, then he walked to the other side of the room, and looked upon an intact cooking spit.
"Hey, maybe we can have that cooking spell afterall, I mean, after business of course." Serana said.
"Gladly Serana." Sheldon said, then Serana smiled, and Sheldon took the cut wood in the fireplace, then he used telekinesis to pull the firewood by the entrance to him, and took them as well. Sheldon then went to the table next to the spit, gathered the bowl of troll fat, as well as the salt piles on the upper shelf. He then looked over the barrels at the other end of the room, but ignored them, and went to the staircase.
Serana followed him up the long row of stairs to the wooden door at the top, and Sheldon put his hand on the door, and looked at Serana.
"Let's do this." She breathed out, then Sheldon pushed the door open, and it revealed a grand hall, with a partially-ruined ceiling, scattered stones that littered the floor, a long table with the left-most third crushed by a fallen stone, and the unbroken chairs populated by a dozen skeletons. Some of them wore ancient Nord armor, while others wore the hooded cloaks of a mage, or warlock, and some skeletons wore nothing. All of them slept with their heads bowed, and remained stationary even as Sheldon and Serana entered the room aggressively.
Sudden...the fireplaces on the side of the room opposite to Sheldon and Serana ignited, and the skeletons were roused from their slumber.
"Attack!" Sheldon yelled, then the skeletons grabbed their swords, axes, maces, or bows as Sheldon materialized Chillrend. The skeletons with their backs turned to Sheldon had barely enough time to face him as Sheldon cleaved one of the unarmored skeletons from its shoulder, to its hip. The skeletons on the other side of the table notched arrows and backed away from the table, but their loosed arrows broke against Sheldon's unnaturally durable armor.
He engaged the rest of the unarmored skeletons, and shattered each of them with a single strike, and Serana finished the last pair with a bolt of chain lightning, and some of the armored skeletons were also staggered.
"Tough day for you!" Serana said casually, then she released icy spears at some of the armored skeletons as they engaged Sheldon. Spellbreaker withstood the strikes from the skeleton's axes, or maces, as well as some of the ice spikes launched at him by the skeletons with cloaks, armor, or both. One skeleton swung its greatsword at Sheldon, and like the rest of the arrows loosed at him, Sheldon's armor held fast.
Meanwhile, Chillrend, and Serana's lightning bolts, and icy spears struck the skeletons without mercy or pause, even though the skeleton's armor also held fast.
"Do not relent!" Sheldon yelled, then Serana launched some icy spears at one of the skeleton archers that retreated to the staircase at the opposite side of the hall. One of the remaining armored skeletons lumbered toward Serana as she pelted the distant archers with icy spears, and Sheldon sliced apart the other skeletons.
When Serana was in striking range, she narrowly ducked under the skeleton's greatsword, and retreated as it continued to swing at her.
She then summoned a bound sword, severed one of the skeleton's arms, then one of its legs, then its head.
"That'll teach you." Serana said, then she was struck by an arrow in the side of her chest, and she collapsed to the ground as Sheldon killed the last armored skeleton.
"Serana!" He yelled, then Serana removed the arrow and remained on her knees as she removed the arrow, and her wound closed.
"I'll be fine." She said, then an arrow soared a few inches past her head, then Sheldon stood between her and the archers. When Serana recovered, she hid behind a nearby stone pillar, and more arrows flew toward them, but none hit Serana, or pierced Sheldon's armor. The archers then dropped their bows, drew their swords, and charged at Sheldon as he responded in kind.
Serana then reanimated one of the armored skeletons...and Sheldon immediately grabbed it, and held it out in front of him. Serana then looked at him intensely as Sheldon sprinted toward the skeletons, knocked them to the ground with no regard for the damage they took. Sheldon then slammed the skeleton in his arms into one of the archers on the ground, and the prone skeleton shattered, and the skeleton he held turned to dust.
He then grabbed another archer, tore off its skull, smashed it against the armored skull of the last archer, then he pinned it to the wall, and repeatedly punched it until it fell apart.
"Gods forsaken things..." He groaned, then Serana approached Sheldon as he stared at the wall in front of him, and because of his helmet, his breathing was as loud as his raising and falling shoulders were visible.
"Are...you feeling alright?" Serana asked.
"No...I'm not..." Sheldon said seriously.
"Sheldon, I'm fine. We vampires can heal much quicker-" Sheldon cuts Serana off.
"I'm aware, but that changes nothing..." Sheldon said, then he looked away, and Serana sighed deeply.
"How about you go downstairs and get cooking? I'll stay here and collect all the stuff." She said, then Sheldon took a moment to think.
"Good idea." He whispered, then he walked past Serana, and she gathered the items off of the skeletons as Sheldon took a platter, and some plates off the tables, and went to the exit.
When he returned minutes later, he was empty-handed, but Serana cleared the undamaged end of the tables of the dinnerware there, and put the skeleton's equipment on it.
"Those skeletons had some pretty good stuff on them." Serana said as she motioned to the chair next to her.
"No doubt." Sheldon breathed out, then he saw next to Serana, took off his helmet, forcefully set it on the table, and deflated.
"Sheldon...? You mind telling me what's wrong?" Serana asked.
"I think...I think all of this is getting to me." Sheldon said.
"Because of our talk earlier, or the situation?" Serana asked.
"Both..." Sheldon said seriously.
"Oh...right..." Serana trailed off.
"But for what it's worth, I don't fault you in any way...nor can I." Sheldon said.
"Good to know." Serana said.
"As for my...outburst with those skeletons. Well, there's only so much a heart can take, no matter how much stone you support it with." Sheldon said.
"What?" Serana asked.
"I always had faith in your abilities Serana, but all the faith in the world cannot provide immunity to..." Sheldon trailed off.
"Immunity to?" Serana asked, then Sheldon sighed deeply.
"The fear of seeing someone innocent or benevolent meet their end." Sheldon said, then Serana stared at him.
"So...you used those skeletons as outlets. That makes sense..." Serana said.
"And I want more..." Sheldon said seriously as he clenched his fists.
"Well, I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of heads to knock later on. But for now, let's just settle here, o.k.?" Serana said.
"Yes..." Sheldon whispered, then Serana looked back at the door.
"I take it the food needs to simmer for a while?" She asked.
"Yes, and I'm making horker stew this time." Sheldon said.
"Alright then." Serana said simply.
"Is there anything else you want to ask of me before I fetch it?" Sheldon asked, then Serana took a moment to think.
"Yes, but...I'm alittle afraid to ask." She said.
"Then it would probably be wise to save it for when you aren't afraid to ask." Sheldon said.
"No kidding." Serana said.
"Although...it is a welcome change for the stench of death to be weaker here, despite all the skeletons." Sheldon said.
"Maybe it's because of the air circulating better here?" Serana said.
"Perhaps..." Sheldon said.
"Although, it does still smell pretty musty in here." Serana said.
"I have some candles to burn." Sheldon said, then Serana smirked.
"Then please do." She said, then she stood up, went to one of the candlesticks in the pile of gathered items, and set it in front of Sheldon. He then materialized three candles, places them on each of the candlestick's platforms, and used his magic to ignite them. Serana then inhaled deeply through her nose, and exhaled just as deeply through her mouth.
"Better?" Sheldon asked casually, then Serana stared at him.
"Yes...much..." Serana breathed out, then Sheldon looked back at the entrance.
"The stew should be ready soon." He said, then he stood up, and left the room through the door.
When he returned with the pot of stew, he set up two metal bowls, filled them both with a metal ladle...and Serana immediately ate a mouthful.
"My compliments to the chef." She said casually.
"Received and appreciated." Sheldon said simply, then the pair continued to eat their meal for the better part of a minute, and Serana occasionally looked at the terrace on the right side of the room.
"I don't think anyone heard the ruckus going on in this room, otherwise we probably would've gotten attacked by now." Serana said, then Sheldon looked at the exit.
"Laas..." He whispered, then he looked at the ceiling, and his eyes traveled further upward.
"Why were you looking around like that...?" Serana asked seriously.
"There are more far ahead of us, but there are plenty above us." Sheldon said.
"So...we'll have to do some climbing apparently." Serana said.
"It would seem so, but until then." Sheldon said.
"Right, one step at a time." Serana said, then the pair went back to their stew until there was nothing left of it.
"That's all the stew I made." Sheldon said.
"Yeah, not a good idea to fight undead on a full stomach." Serana said.
"Correct." Sheldon said, then he materialized a bottle of wine, and drank from it.
"Don't drink too much now." Serana said casually.
"I can't get drunk, or high for that matter." Sheldon said.
"O.k. I know your body is an alchemist's fantasy, but come on." Serana said.
"I drank until my stomach was full, and I took skooma countless times, but I only ever got the benefits of it. The addictive properties get eliminated before they even have a chance to work." Sheldon said.
"Because of your wolf blood?" Serana asked.
"And then some." Sheldon said.
"Lovely...now, White Phial please?" Serana said, then Sheldon materialized the White Phial, gave it to Serana, and she drank several mouthfuls, and gave the phial back.
"Satisfied?" Sheldon asked.
"Yeah...that should get me by for a while." Serana said.
"Good." Sheldon said.
"Anything else you want to get off your chest?" Serana asked.
"Do you truly know nothing about this place?" Sheldon asked.
"I had always just assumed that the other tower was completely destroyed inside. My mother kept this a secret, even from me. She must have been up to something she thought was dangerous." Serana said.
"Whatever it was that drove her to taking such pains, it must have been...quite elaborate to say the least." Sheldon said.
"You're telling me." Serana said seriously,
"Shall we continue?" Sheldon asked.
"Lets." Serana said as she stood up, then Sheldon investigated the ruined terrace to their left, found nothing of value. He then took the bowls, pot plates, platters, candlesticks, and empty wine bottles from the table, and off the floor. He then took the rest of the similar items from the counter, the damaged, web-covered cabinets, and the drum on the floor as well, and ruined books in the cabinets.
"I assume these are cookbooks." Sheldon said.
"Maybe...although I did do some more thinking about those tables in the kitchen, the ones with blood on them." Serana said.
"I know what you meant." Sheldon said simply.
"Well, what if my mother also used a ritual to command these undead to guard this place from intruders?" Serana asked.
"One ritual to conceal this place, and another to protect it...your mother truly was gifted in necromancy." Sheldon said.
"Haven't you seen rituals like this before?" Serana asked.
"Not of this magnitude, especially not with set-ups so minor." Sheldon said.
"You don't need much material for most necromancy." Serana said.
"I know, but nevertheless, I have seen less impressive feats done with more extravagance." Sheldon said.
"I thought you cared little for necromancy." Serana said.
"I do, but that is a poor excuse to keep myself ignorant on the subject, especially when I faced it so regularly." Sheldon said.
"Do you intend to share what you've picked up with me, on the off-chance there's anything I haven't picked up over the last thousand years?" Serana asked casually, then Sheldon stared at her.
"I suppose there's no harm in it." He said simply, then he went to the table, grabbed his helmet, put it on, then he took the weapons, armor, shields, bone meal, septims, and even jewels off of the pile of items Serana collected.
"You're welcome." She said.
"Very funny." Sheldon said, then they walked up the stairs by the fireplace, and Sheldon took the ruined books in the cabinet next to the exit.
"You know, I don't think those are cookbooks. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if any of the books we found weren't just regular books." Serana said.
"Until they get restored, we'll never know, and if it's anything but regular..." Sheldon trailed off.
"Yeah, point taken..." Serana said, then the pair went through the exit.
A series of cobwebs marred the entire room ahead of them, including the space just at the top of the staircase before them.
"Yol!" Sheldon yelled, and a small, but intense discharge of fire erupted from his body, and consumed the webs.
"I thought you said there weren't any frostbite ladies?" Serana said.
"There aren't." Sheldon said, then they watched the webs burn away, and looked around the confined room...and the gargoyle at the end erupted to life as the two braziers to either side of it ignited.
"Ambush!" Serana exclaimed, then Sheldon materialized his ebony mace, raised Spellbreaker, and engaged the gargoyle as it spread its wings. It then pounced at Sheldon, pushed him back a few feet, then Sheldon pushed it back, and Serana moved to the side, and struck the gargoyle in the face with a thunderbolt. Sheldon then smashed the head of the staggered gargoyle with a single swing of his mace that yielded as much force as his body could muster.
Sheldon then took the ruby, amethyst, garnet, and two quicksilver ores that reinforced the gargoyle, then turned to Serana.
"Did your mother keep gargoyles around?" Sheldon asked.
"Not that I ever saw. My mother had a bit of a thing for magical constructs." Serana said.
"What?" Sheldon asked seriously.
"Not...not what you're thinking. She just found them fascinating." Serana said, then Sheldon took a moment to think.
"Wait...if she magically enhanced the gargoyles at Dimhollow Crypt...then it's no wonder it took both of us to beat one of them." He said.
"Maybe, she does take security seriously, more than I thought from the looks of it." Serana said.
"More questions arise, and just as many get answered..." Sheldon trailed off, then he and Serana looked around the room, and another hallway opposite to the one that ended with a wooden door. All they found were some bowls, a cup, a candlestick, another ruined book, and a pair of empty wine bottles. The hallway they traveled ended in yet another cave-in, so they went back the way they came, then Sheldon cut down the hanging ropes covered in blades, and stored them.
They then went to the wooden door, and Sheldon took the leather strips, ruined book, and roll of paper on the side table...then he reached for the door.
"Wait...any surprises for us?" Serana asked.
"Laas..." Sheldon whispered.
"Well?" Serana asked.
"Two more skeletons, just past this door." Sheldon said, then Serana channeled lightning magic into her hands.
"Alright let's get them." She said seriously, then Sheldon looked at the door...
He then kicked the door down, materialized Chillrend, and Serana entered the room just as quickly, and aggressively as Sheldon did. The room with a higher ceiling, a caved-in area at the far corner, and a staircase that led to another exit marked by lit candles. To their puzzlement, the skeletons were nowhere in sight...
"Well...this is awkward..." Serana said casually.
"The skeletons are just up those steps." Sheldon said as he pointed at the staircase, then they went up the stairs, and saw two armored skeletons sitting on a bench. Sheldon cut down the first skeleton just as it stood up, and Serana staggered the other skeletons as it drew its bow, then Sheldon severed its head. He then took the skeleton's weapons, armor, bone meal, and the garnet one of them had, and looked at the door the skeletons were posted in front of.
Sheldon then unlocked the door with a spell, and it revealed a closest full of items.
"Wow, we really hit the motherload this time." Serana said, then Sheldon took the leather strips on top of a barrel, as well as the two canis roots inside it. He then took the lockpick, the few septims, and the bag full of septims within the pot, all of which were on the middle shelf. The shelf just below the top had a steel dagger, and a lesser soul gem in its container.
"Interesting motherload." Sheldon deadpanned.
"Well, how was I supposed to know it was a custodian's closet?" Serana asked seriously.
"I hope the rest of this place is more charitable." Sheldon said, then he went down the stairs, and searched the area below, but found nothing of value. They then went past the lit candle cluster, and went up the long stairway before them, despite the fallen stones blocking the sides. The braziers above, and beside them ignited abruptly, and quickly as they went up the stairs, and Sheldon went to the cabinet before them, and took yet another cluster of ruined books.
To their left, they saw a balcony above a set of cabinets, and a gargoyle guarded the path leading out of the area they stood in.
"I have a bad feeling about what's ahead of us." Serana said seriously.
"As do I, stealth would serve us well." Sheldon said, then he went to the cabinets, took the plates, cups, jugs, septims, and sapphire he found, then he materialized his bow. He then hit a rope with blades on it, ripped it down, and they heard a skeleton approach...only for Sheldon to put a dragontooth arrow through its skull. The gargoyle then erupted to life, shrieked, then Sheldon loosed two arrows into its chest.
He then retrieved his arrows, and too the gold, and corundum ore, as well as the flawless emerald, and ruby on the gargoyle, then he went to the skeleton, and took its bone meal, bow, and armor, and his arrow.
"See anything else?" Serana asked.
"Laas...Yah Niir..." Sheldon whispered, then he looked ahead, and loosed an arrow at the skeleton on the balcony ahead of them, and Serana struggled to look through the sunlight shining in through the banner-covered windows, and the faint mist, and saw the skeleton fall down.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'." Serana said.
"And you should." Sheldon said, then Serana smirked.
"You know...I'm amazed you can see through all of that. Yes, I remember how Aura Whisper works, but...that skeleton was camouflaged pretty damn wall." Serana said.
"There is good reason Aura Whisper is one of my favorite Thu'ums." Sheldon said, then the pair walked past a dormant gargoyle, went through a side entrance, and went to the left, since the right side was caved-in. Sheldon searched the two cabinets on the side, and found some septims, and fine clothes inside both of them, and took the candlestick, bowl, and goblets on top of them. They then went past the small outcropping hanging over the area they were in previously, and Sheldon approached the locked, wooden door.
When Sheldon unlocked it, he and Serana entered the area just above the area in which Sheldon shot down the gargoyle...then they saw a chest to the side.
"Over two hundred coins, and a big stamina potion...not bad." Serana said as Sheldon took the items, and stored them in his satchel.
"Indeed." He said, then he walked past Serana, and they went up the staircase next to them. They then went past back the bench, and toward the cabinets with a lute on the bottom shelf, and several books on the shelves above it. The desk next to it had a quill, leather piece, a pair of books, and a shelf with paper rolls on it...
"This was where our bards worked, or at least one of them." Serana said.
"Evidently..." Sheldon trailed off, then he looked at the paper rolls, took them, and Serana widened her eyes and gasped as Sheldon opened the only scroll on the shelf.
"A fire storm scroll?! Where did they get this?!" She asked seriously.
"Precisely what I want to know." Sheldon said, then they heard lumber footsteps, and an armored skeleton with a battleaxe entered the room. Serana immediately conjured a bound sword, and engaged the undead soldier, then she ducked under an axe swing, and sliced one of its legs, but its armor withstood the strike. Sheldon then loosed an arrow into the skeleton's chest, and it remained standing...until Serana sliced it twice with as much force as she could use.
"That'll teach you." She said seriously, then she took the arrow, and gave it to Sheldon.
"Thank you." He said, then he took the empty wine bottle, and the cup next to it...then he saw a wooden plaque, with a banded iron shield, and a pair of crossed iron greatswords handing on the wall above the entrance to the are below them.
"Don't even think about it." Serana said.
"Actually, I was, but then I thought better about it." Sheldon said.
"Good...at least leave something of my home." Serana said.
"The same goes for these books too." Sheldon said.
"Thank you very much." Serana said casually, then Sheldon took the lute, and they went through the door the skeleton came from, then entered a room on the side that was almost completely caved-in.
"Is any part of this castle not in disrepair?" Sheldon asked seriously as Serana looked over the half-buried king-sized bed.
"Our head bard slept here." Serana said.
"I see..." Sheldon breathed out, then he turned around, and opened the two long chest behind them, took the septims in each of them, and the gold ring he found in one of them.
"He was even saving a ring to propose to someone..." Serana said softly.
"Dammit..." Sheldon groaned.
"Let's go...the sooner we find my mother the better." Serana said.
"I agree more and more..." Sheldon said, then they went to the end of the wide, web-coated hallway, and Sheldon looked into the room there.
"Well, as least this room isn't completely wrecked." Serana said.
"I assume another of your bards lived here?" Sheldon asked.
"Yeah...now take what you want and let's go please." Serana said, then Sheldon opened the small wardrobe under the stone shelf on the left, gathered the fine hat, and boots, and well as the six septims there, then they exited the room, and went up the stairs behind them to the wooden door at the top.
When they opened the door they were on a balcony overlooking a dinning hall with two small tables, and each one had goblets and plates set up. On the opposite side of the room, a skeleton archer, and an armored skeleton were stationed there, as a second armored skeleton that wielded a greatsword patrolled the lower level. Sheldon materialized his bow, loosed an armor into the head of the armored skeleton below them, then he loosed a second arrow through the chest of the skeleton archer, and his last arrow pierced the chest of the skeleton guarding the archer.
"This must be where your servants ate." Sheldon said as he de-materialized his bow.
"It is, or...was. Let's just keep going." Serana said, then Sheldon inspected the small wardrobe behind them, took the fine clothes there, and went down the stairs. He took his arrow from the skeleton guard below them, found a common soul gem on its person, and took its greatsword, and its armor. He then took the bowls, plates, goblets, and silverware on the tables, and looked upon the small, stone throne in the corner.
"Interesting..." Sheldon said.
"I actually sat there myself while everyone else enjoyed their festivities. I don't know if either of my parents did though." Serana said.
"Did you enjoy yourself as much as everyone else?" Sheldon asked.
"I doubt it. The servants sometimes had the time of their lives depending on what was going on at the time. I was mostly just as spectator. A well-liked spectator, but a spectator nonetheless." Serana said.
"No doubt." Sheldon said.
"As for all the skeletons...I have a theory that they're the guards. Well, former guards of this place, and my mother had them continue to look after the place until she came back, but of course, never did." Serana said.
"Maybe so." Sheldon said, then he led Serana up the stairs to the other balcony, passed a large gate on his left side, and retrieved his arrows from the two skeletons there. He also took their weapons and armor, and turned his attention to the area around him. He took the platter, two plates, and two goblets on the table on the side, and took his arrow from the skeleton he shot while they were still in the area before the dining hall coming up the longest staircase. He then took the skeleton archer's weapons and armor, as well as a plate on the floor.
The goblets, plates, jugs, and candlesticks on the table, shelf, and cabinet next to the dead skeleton archer at Sheldon's feet were also fair game, as were the linen wrap, the roll of paper, and the quill on the table. Sheldon then went to the cabinet past the gargoyle between the two areas, and Sheldon gathered the linen wraps, and ruined books at the top, as well as the roll of paper.
The heavily-shadowed area a few steps away from where Sheldon stood had nothing of value, so he rejoined Serana.
"There's a chain behind that gargoyle." She said as she pointed at the gargoyle.
"Ready yourself." Sheldon said seriously, then Serana channeled lightning into her hands as Sheldon approached the chain, and pulled it. The pair looked as the gate behind them raised, then the gargoyle erupted to life, and shrieked, and Serana released the lightning she was containing between her hands. The gargoyle was staggered, and Sheldon engaged it with Chillrend an Spellbreaker at the ready, and the gargoyle immediately swiped at Sheldon with both of its clawed hands.
Sheldon withstood the gargoyles assault without losing an inch of ground, and Serana shot a barrage of icy spears at the gargoyle. Her projectiles broke against the gargoyle's stony hide, and the life force it was stealing from Sheldon with each strike healed its minor wounds. Sheldon then pushed the gargoyle back with a powerful shield bash, then the gargoyle spread its wings, leaped at Sheldon, then he ducked under it. The gargoyle then rolled along the round, spread its wings again, and pounced at Sheldon, and he had just enough time to side-step it.
The gargoyle hit the small staircase behind Sheldon head-first, and Serana shot several icy spears into its back. Regardless, it immediately stood up, quickly turned around with its fangs bared, and Sheldon slashed it across its abdomen. The gargoyle crawled backwards up the stairs, and when it stood up, Sheldon slashed it legs, and moved behind it. He then grabbed the gargoyle, wrapped one of his arms around its neck, and Serana cast several thunderbolts at it, then Sheldon slit the gargoyles throat, and pushed it down the stairs.
Sheldon then stood where he was in a neutral stance, and looked upon the fallen gargoyle as Serana looked at Sheldon.
"By the blood..." Serana breathed out, then Sheldon de-materialized Spellbreaker, and removed his helmet...which revealed his usual tense, and stoic, but still somewhat soft demeanor.
"Another glorious loss for the undead...with all due respect to you, and your mother Serana." Sheldon said.
"Hey, these things are trying to kill us, so I've got no tears to shed for these things." Serana said.
"Good to know." Sheldon said casually, then he put his helmet back on, took the two amethysts, moonstone, and iron ore reinforcing the gargoyle, then the two went to the gate.
When they passed it, Sheldon pulled the lever on the wall next to him, and the gate closed.
"Well, at least it's harder to follow us." Serana said.
"Although the lever is in plain sight." Sheldon said.
"I said 'harder' not 'impossible'." Serana said seriously.
"I know." Sheldon said, then the pair walked up a long flight of stairs littered with rubble.
"Any surprises up ahead?" Serana asked.
"Other than the skeleton in front of us?" Sheldon asked seriously, then he materialized his ebony crossbow, shot a bolt through the skeleton archer helmet, and it fell to the ground immediately..
"O.k...now can you whisper?" Serana asked.
"Laas..." Sheldon whispered, then he looked around.
"Any frostbites this time?" Serana asked.
"Of course not, there's less than a dozen skeletons in the next room. But from what I've gathered, they are all that's left." Sheldon said.
"Finally..." Serana breathed out, then Sheldon recovered his bolt, and took the skeleton's bow, quiver, bone meal, and armor. They continued up the path until they saw another gargoyle, and it erupted to life and shrieked, then Sheldon materialized Spellbreaker, and his ebony mace. He then blocked several claw strikes as Serana hit the gargoyle with thunderbolts, and icy spears.
In the end, Sheldon bashed the gargoyle across its face, replaced his mace with Chillrend, stabbed the gargoyle in its lower chest, then slashed off its head.
"These gargoyles really are the toughest I've ever fought." Sheldon said seriously as he de-materialized his weapon, and shield.
"I think it has something to do with blood magic. Necromancy has nothing to do with gargoyles." Serana said.
"Was she as versed in that art as you?" Sheldon asked.
"I told you she's more powerful than I am." Serana said seriously as she folded her arms.
"A fair point..." Sheldon said simply, then he took the gargoyle's flawless amethyst, and garnet, as well as its iron, and silver ore.
"Maybe regular enchanting had a part to play too." Serana said.
"Maybe indeed. Enchanting weapons and armor isn't the only option in that regard..." Sheldon said, then he looked at the gate behind him.
"There are several skeletons in there. I can hear them." Serana said, then Sheldon looked at the wooden door in the wall, and opened it with a spell.
"Stealth is no longer our watchword." Sheldon said, then he pulled the chain on the wall next to the gate, and it raised up, and he materialized his bow.
"This looked like a chapel of some sort." Serana said as she, and Sheldon looked at the piles of benches gathered on both sides of the room...then Sheldon lowed his bow.
"It...it can't be..." He whispered.
"What?" Serana asked.
"A statue of Mara...in a place like this..." Sheldon said softly.
"Well, let's put those skeletons down, and you can say a prayer or two." Serana said.
"Serana, you may not follow the Divines, but I do, and I highly doubt any of them wronged you personally, unlike Molag Bal who ruined my life directly and indirectly." Sheldon said.
"Do you really want to discuss that, here and now?" Serana asked seriously, then they stared at each other.
"Just show some respect next time." Sheldon said, then he notched an arrow, loosed it at the armored skeleton wielding a warhammer, and it fell as the arrow pierced its back. Two other skeletons, one wearing a cloak, the other wearing nothing, investigated the fallen skeleton, and a pair of unarmored skeletons crossed the bridge connecting the two sides of the upper level. Sheldon then replaced his bow with Chillrend, and Spellbreaker, and charged at the three skeletons that entered from the rear.
Sheldon beheaded the armored archer without difficulty, and Serana blasted the two unarmored skeletons apart with thunderbolts
"Teamwork right there." Serana said, then Sheldon stared at the tilted, half-buried statue of Mara, and walked into the chamber where the statue resided as Serana remained at a distance.
"Why is this here...?" Sheldon asked seriously.
"I don't know...but I think this is where my parents got married." Serana said, then Sheldon lowered his head, and clenched his fists.
"And even that tiny beacon of benevolence has been withered and buried. Harkon gives me more reasons to see him brought down the longer I am here." Sheldon said seriously.
"Sheldon..." Serana breathed out, then Sheldon took an amulet of Mara out of his satchel, extended his arm, and let the amulet hang with his opened hand.
"Mara, hear my plea, and my promise, should I return to this place, I will repay you the debt I owe you. I will restore your grace here, as you have preserved my own, even as the infamous Beast. While you may not deem it necessary, I cannot in good faith let your services to myself, or Skyrim be rewarded with this kind of defilement...and I will do no such thing." Sheldon said, then he left the amulet in bowl at the base of the statue.
"Damn Sheldon..." Serana breathed out, then Sheldon looked to the left, went past the wooden wall, opened the small chest behind it, then took the stamina potion, and the large number of septims. The cupboard behind him held no valuables, nor did the cabinets on the other side of the room, so he then went back into the chapel. He then gathered the skeletons' weapons, armor, bone meal, and jewels, and Serana followed him to the door he opened before. They then went up the small staircase, and took the left turn at the corner table with a lit candle on it.
They entered a room filled with racks of weapons of each type, as well as two large benches in the middle of the room, a lit brazier between one entrance, and the other, and a cabinet on either side of the brazier held wine, and potions, or a few ruined books.
"This looks like the guards' armory." Serana said.
"And a possible lounge as well." Sheldon said, then he took the minor health, and stamina potions, and wine from one cabinet, and the ruined books from the other. He then went to each of the weapon racks, took them as well, and noted the minor stamina or magicka damage enchantments on a bow, and a battleaxe. He then went to the staircase leading out of the room, saw the closed gate, and the chain on the wall next to it.
When he pulled the chain, and went through the gate, he was immediately greeted by a staircase ahead of him, which was blocked by another cave-in. He and Serana went through the entrance on their left, then they looked down both paths in the hallway they were in. They then went to the left, and went up the small stairs they saw, and went across the bridge to the other side of the chapel.
They then went through the narrow hallway, up the long staircase ahead of them, and Sheldon opened a wooden door...and Serana widened her eyes when we looked upon a long, wooden table with a skeleton, and a box full of bones by its feet.
"Mother..." She whispered.
"Another ritual most likely..." Sheldon said.
"No kidding...now let's look around." Serana said, then they both wandered through the room, and took every linen wrap, ruined book, embalming tool, potion, goblet, or paper roll in sight, including the two ruined books supporting the skull of the intact skeleton on the table.
"I think that's everything important." Sheldon said.
"If you can call that important." Serana said, then Sheldon opened the door on the other side of the room.
The two then went through a short, narrow hallway, and saw more cobwebs, and cave-ins, but also a series of staircares.
"Laas." Sheldon whispered, then he looked around.
"Please no more skeletons." Serana said.
"No, they're all truly dead now." Sheldon said.
"Finally..." Serana said, then she followed Sheldon up the stairs, until they reached a set of massive, wooden doors.
"This looks promising..." Sheldon trailed off, then he put his hands on both of the doors, and pushed them open...and he revealed a large room, with gargoyles, and equally-sized stones, as well as a stone partially craved into a gargoyle's form.
"Well, now we know where all the gargoyles came from." Serana said, then Sheldon looked over each gargoyle, and took the iron hammer, and dagger on the nearby table.
"Your mother craved all of these herself too..." Sheldon trailed off, then the gargoyle in the center of the room erupted to life, then Sheldon immediately materialized his ebony mace, and struck it with enough force to shatter its head. The gargoyle next to it engaged Sheldon seconds later, and Sheldon struck it with significantly less force, but still destroyed it head. He then moved further toward the two coffins in the corner at the top of a small staircase...then a third gargoyle erupted to life, and Sheldon charged at it.
Serana hit the gargoyle in the face with a thunderbolt, and destroyed its head as Sheldo tackled the gargoyle into a wall, then they looked around.
"That was easy..." Serana said.
"Easy? Those gargoyles were pathetic." Sheldon said seriously.
"Maybe she had yet to bless them, if you can call it that." Serana said.
"Well...I suppose we should count ourselves lucky. Should we encounter a group of those empowered gargoyles, I could use my more advanced magics to even the odds." Sheldon said.
"You're yanking my chain. You've been holding back this whole time?" Serana asked.
"Physically? No. Magically? Very much so, but it's for the better that I do." Sheldon said.
"Dare I ask?" Serana asked.
"The only thing I'm comfortable sharing is that I know spells that make some master-level spells look below average." Sheldon said.
"Yikes..." Serana said.
"Yikes indeed." Sheldon said, then he approached the two coffins.
"Me and my mother slept in those coffins." Serana said.
"Did you now?" Sheldon asked.
"Yes, hers is the one with the white inside." Serana said as she pointed at the coffin on the right.
"Noted." Sheldon said, then he took the empty wine bottles on the railing next to each coffin, closed both coffins, and approached the cabinet between the coffins.
"I don't think we've reached the top yet. I'll bet there's some kind of secret passage around here." Serana said as she looked around the room, then Sheldon took the silver sword, and vampire armor, and held it out.
"This is the same outfit Harkon wears..." Sheldon trailed off.
"Maybe my mother kept it on-hand in case he needed it." Serana said, then Sheldon huffed.
"Well, it, and the sword is mine now." He said casually, then Serana smirked, and shook her head as Sheldon put them in his satchel.
"You just stole from my father personally...if he finds that out, it's really on between you." Serana said.
"I do not case." Sheldon said, then Serana took a moment to think.
"It's also pretty risky to keep a silver sword with her." She said.
"Maybe it was for defense should any of Harkon's lackeys get any ideas." Sheldon said.
"I guess, we vampires tend to be pretty cutthroat with each other." Serana said as Sheldon opened the cabinet, and took the fine clothes within.
"And she, like Isran, apparently didn't believe in taking chances." Sheldon said.
"Right, now let's go find that secret entrance." Serana said seriously, then Sheldon inspected the fireplace at the opposite end of the room, and Serana gathered the various ores, and jewels from the gargoyles. Sheldon gathered the dozens of empty wine bottles in the cabinets on either side of the fireplace, as well as the goblet and platter, and even a conjure familiar scroll. Sheldon then took the firewood, then looked at the lit candle on his right, then the unlit candle on his left, used Clairvoyance, and looked at the unlit candle again.
"Serana?" Sheldon asked, then Serana looked at him as he grabbed the unlit candle, turned it, and the upper, and lower sections of the fireplace lined-up with each other, and rose into the upper wall.
"Leave it to my mother...always smarter than I gave her credit for." Serana said, then they looked at the path Sheldon revealed.
"Wisdom and knowledge do not always go hand-in-hand..." Sheldon trailed off, then he went through the opened passage, and Serana followed him.
I believe that's enough for this chapter; I do my damnedest to not write more than ten thousand words, and I hope to keep up that trend. Even if that wasn't the case, there's been plenty in this chapter, and I do want to save what's next for the next chapter. As for this chapter...I haven't seen anyone talk about the chapel with the Mara statue, which baffles me considering that the castle is essentially Molag Bal's property. Although...the Divines aren't all-powerful, otherwise no one would have any trouble with the daedra to begin with. Besides, there's already an All-Maker in the Elder Scrolls verse, so if he's anything like God...well, wait until Sheldon gives his input there.
Anyway, please be sure to Rate, Review, and Share as always...and stay tuned...
